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The NHL Players’ Association is still trying to decide whether to take a shot or pass on Gary Bettman’s invitation to sit down with the owners.

The union’s negotiating committee and executive board held a conference call Friday to stickhandle around the idea tabled by the NHL commissioner, moments after an attempt to sit down with a federal mediator fell apart Thursday.

Not only would Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly not be in the room, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and special counsel Steve Fehr wouldn’t be welcomed either, so players could hear directly from the owners.

Not every player is against the meeting. Minnesota Wild veteran centre Zenon Konopka told QMI Agency Friday, before the players’ conference call, if that’s what the league wants the NHLPA should try it.

“Let’s take five owners and draft 15 players. Let’s talk and let’s get it done,” said Konopka from Long Island, N.Y. “We’re players … and nobody wants to play more than us.

“Let’s try every different avenue to get a deal done. If the commissioner wants that -- we just want to play -- anything he wants.”

If the players agree, the indications are they want to see different owners than Ted Leonsis (Washington), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston) and Murray Edwards (Calgary). Moderates like James Dolan of the New York Rangers and Montreal’s Geoff Molson would be welcomed.

In return, a league source said the NHL might request some names the players want. Tampa Bay Lightning winger Martin St. Louis told the Tampa Bay Times Friday he’d like to be there if the two sides decide to go ahead with these talks.

“I would,” St. Louis told the newspaper. “But you would have to be cautious, too. These guys (the owners) are successful because they’ve been doing deals their whole life. We’re hockey players, so we have to be careful.”

Not everybody likes the idea.

“The union should not go near this. This is nothing more than a ploy,” said a league insider. “It’s a public relations move in a big way. I just don’t think the union has anything to gain from this.”

There was a belief that by the time the players missed a couple of paycheques -- and most certainly by the American Thanksgiving last week -- some members of the NHLPA would hold a gun to Fehr’s head to get a deal in place.

It’s believed Fehr was pushed by a group of moderate players to table a comprehensive offer — including some high profile — to the owners in New York last week because not every player is prepared to lose the season.

For the most part, the players have held strong. They have offered a better deal to the owners than they currently have, but have refused to accept any risk by linking salaries to revenues which is a big reason why there isn’t a CBA.

“My belief is the expectations of the league going into this negotiation were ridiculous,” said the insider. “This whole thing has been a colossal disaster (for the league), but at this point both sides have to bend.”

That being said, this isn’t great for the players either. The money they don’t get paid every day is something they’re not going to get back. As the calendar turns to December it will be interesting to see where this whole mess leads.

The owners could put pressure on the union by announcing a “drop-dead” date for a season next week. That won’t have the players shaking in their boots, but the word is Roman Hamrlik isn’t the only one who wants to play.

Konopka made no bones about the fact the players want to get back to work. He has been keeping his time card filled with other business ventures, but, first and foremost, he wants to get back on the ice.

“Everyone is frustrated,” said Konopka. “That’s the word of the month, frustration, right?

“I’m a positive guy. I look at it as a half-full, not half-empty. The half-full part of me says we’re going to have a season. You’ve got to stay positive. If you don’t stay positive you’re in trouble. I’ve learned that in life.”

Nobody is positive even though, that if these discussions are held they’re going to lead to a resolution.

NHL owners, players want to cut out mediators

The NHL Players’ Association is still trying to decide whether to take a shot or pass on Gary Bettman’s invitation to sit down with the owners.

The union’s negotiating committee and executive board held a conference call Friday to stickhandle around the idea tabled by the NHL commissioner, moments after an attempt to sit down with a federal mediator fell apart Thursday.